Unified TCI Codepoint Activation for Multi-TRP NR Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless communication systems, particularly 5G NR, face challenges in efficiently configuring and managing transmission configuration indicator (TCI) states for multi-transmit receive points (TRPs), which affect uplink and downlink communication reliability and throughput, especially in higher frequency bands.
Innovation Solution
A unified TCI framework is extended to support multi-TRP operation by configuring, activating, and indicating TCI states using RRC messages, MAC-CEs, and DCI messages, allowing for simultaneous multi-panel uplink transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate TCI state configurations are used for uplink and downlink in multi-TRP scenarios, then communication reliability can be maintained, but signaling overhead and configuration complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges separate uplink and downlink TCI state configurations into a unified TCI state configuration. The network node configures a single set of TCI states that can be applied to both uplink and downlink communications across multiple TRPs, reducing the number of separate configuration messages and simplifying the overall configuration complexity while maintaining communication reliability through the unified framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified TCI state configuration enables a single configuration mechanism to serve multiple functions - it simultaneously manages TCI states for both uplink and downlink communications, and supports multiple TRPs within a single configuration framework. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate dedicated configurations for each direction and TRP combination.
2Measurement precision
If multiple separate DCI messages are transmitted for TCI state indication in multi-TRP operation, then precise TCI state control is achieved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate DCI messages into a single unified DCI message that carries TCI state indications for multiple TRPs simultaneously. The unified DCI message includes a TCI field that can indicate multiple codepoints, each corresponding to different TRPs, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining precise control over TCI states for each TRP through the codepoint structure.
3Loss of information
If unified TCI state configuration is implemented for multi-TRP operation, then signaling overhead is reduced, but the ability to independently optimize uplink and downlink TCI states is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The unified TCI state configuration is segmented into multiple codepoints, where each codepoint can independently represent different TCI state combinations for different TRPs. This segmentation allows the system to maintain a unified configuration structure (reducing overhead) while enabling independent optimization of TCI states for specific TRPs and communication directions through the codepoint-level granularity.
4Productivity
If complex multi-TRP TCI state management is implemented, then communication throughput in higher frequency bands is improved, but system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic unified TCI state configuration where the network node can flexibly assign and reassign codepoints to different TCI states based on current communication conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to changing channel conditions in higher frequency bands, optimizing throughput while keeping the underlying configuration structure manageable through the unified framework rather than multiple static configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A network node may transmit an RRC message to a UE. The RRC message may include a configuration of a plurality of TCI states. The network node may transmit one or more MAC-CEs to the UE. The one or more MAC-CEs may include a configuration of a plurality of codepoints. Each codepoint in the plurality of codepoints may be associated with one or more TRPs in a plurality of TRPs of the network node. The plurality of codepoints may be associated with at least one first TCI state for an uplink communication and at least one second TCI state for a downlink communication. The network node may transmit a single DCI message to the UE. The single DCI message may be indicative of at least one codepoint in the plurality of codepoints. The network node may communicate with the UE based on the at least one codepoint.